Level-registering means



F. w. MERRITT AND A. E.. WATTS. LEVEL REGISTERING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED APR- 4, I921.

Patented July 11, 1922.

I v I INVENTOR S /1M6 id'- Warm ATTOR N EY FRANK w. MERRITT AND ALFRED n. WATTS, or DULUTH,- MINNESOTA,

LEVEL-REGISTERING. MEANS Application filed April 4,

T 0 all to 1 mm it may 0091000 m Be it known that we, FRANK N. MERRITT and ALFRED E. VVA'r'rs, citizens of the United States. residin at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Level-Registering- Means, of which we do declare the following to be a specification.

Our invention relates to level registering means, and has for its object the provision of simple and convenient means for deter mining whether a ship is level or properly trimmed, and, if not, how much out of level she is. Said invention may be applied longitudinally of the ship to determine her longitudinal trim, or transversely of the ship to determine her transverse trim. It consists of the constructions, combinations and arrangements of, parts hereinafter described and claimed.

I In the accompanying drawings, Fig; 1 is a transverse diagrammatic sectional view of the hull of a ship equipped with our invention. Fig. 2, is a fragmentary central transverse sectional view of said ship, showing One end of our said invention in retracted or closed position thereon. Fig. 3, is a longitudinal section of the hereinafter described housing. Fig. 41, is a longitudinal side elevation of our said invention, showing the same in retracted position in solid lines, and in extended or operative position in broken lines. Fig. 5, is a central vertical section, partly in side elevation of a gauge forming part of our said invention, and Fig. 6, is a top plan of a locking ring.

In the drawings, A is the hull of a vessel, or ship of any suitable structure preferably including an outer skin 1, an inner skin 1 a deck 1" and a transversely disposed deck beam 1. 1 Positioned below and preferably near said deck, where it will be out of the way, is a pipe 9., which extends nearly across said vessel to points near its opposlte sides. Pivotally connected at one end to each end of said pipe 2 and communicating therewith are corresponding swing joints 2", 2 to the opposite ends of which are pivoted swing joints 2 2, respectively. On the opposite ends of sa1d swlng oints 222 and communicating therewith are pivotally mounted vertically extending level glasses or gauges 3, 3, of any suitable construction adapted to extend upwardly through suitable apertures in the deck of the vessel and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1e22.

1921; Serial No. 458,393.

into or through a housing 4-, mounted on said deck.

Each of said gauges preferably'comprises an-1nterior glass tube 3 a tubular inner case; 3 concentric with said glass tube and having an elongated sighting aperture formed in one side for viewing said glass; packing rings 3, 3 between said glass tube and inner case; retaining rings 3 positioned above and below said packing. rings, said r'e tam ng rlngs being preferably screwed into said inner casing tube; an exterior tubular casing 3 adapted to turn on its longitudinal 2].X1S' and having an elongated aperture formed in one side adapted in operative position to register with the viewing aperture in said interior case; a top plug or cap 3" adapted to screw into said interior caseand to overlap the upper end ofsaid' exterior case, said top plug having an air vent 3 formed therein, a locking-ring 3 adapted to screw on to the lower end of said outer case; a coupling 3 adapted to screw into said interior case a-nd into the end of the corresponding one of said swing joints 2; and a scale marked or positioned on said gauge for reading the same. Mounted upon said deck above said apertures therein are housings 4, 4, respectively, of any suitable construction, each preferably comprising a body portion 4 and a cover 4"; said body portion has an aperture 4 formed therein for the passage of the corresponding gauge 3. Concentric with said aperture l said body portion has an internal annular groove 4 formed therein a short distance from its lower end, connecting with which groove are downwardly directed slots 4 through which the ears 3 of said locking ring 8 are adapted to pass to said groove. Said passage 4 is enlarged atits upper end whereby an annular shoulder 4-** is formed in said body portion below said cover, upon which shoulder the upper end of said gauge is adapted to rest below said cover when said gauge is in lowered position.

In operation, the pipe 2 and said swing joints and part of each of said gauges are filled with a suitable fluid, preferably a nonfreezing fluid, and the tops of the gauges are closed except said air vents 3*. In normal retracted position, the gauges are lowered until their tops are within said housings, and the covers are screwed or otherwise secured on said housin s. hen it is desired to read the gauges, the covers of the housserved, it being obvious that the fluid in the gauge on the lower side will rise, and that it will fall in the gauge on the higher side. It is obvious that the swing joints are used to obtain flexibility of'connection between the gauges and said pipe 2. If desired, hose may be used in place of said swing joints, but we prefer to. use the swing joints because of their greater durability. lVhen it is not desired to read the gauges, the exterior case is given a reverse quarter turn to bring the ears of the locking ring into registration with said slots 4" and so that the viewing slot or aperture in the casing 3 and the glass 3" will be covered and protected by the wall of the case 3. The gauge is then lowered until its upper end rests upon the shoulder 4 and said cover a is replaced on said housing. The structure :is thus fully protected from injury, and said housings from leakage, and thedeck is substantially clear. Advantage is preferablytaken of the space between the two skins of the ship to so position the movable parts of the device that it will be protected and substantially out of the way of other devices and operationsaboard ship. 7 7

What we claim is V I The combination with a vessel including a hull and a deck, a fluid reservoir having flexible terminals at its opposite ends, a vertically disposed fluid operated .level gauge mounted upon each of said terminals and adapted to communicate therewith, said gauges being adapted to stand so that the zero or central horizontal gauge. lines on both of them will be inthe same'horizontal plane when said vessel is level, housings mounted on sand deck in registration with said gauges, said gauges-being adapted to normally extend into said housings and in operation to. V

extend upward through said housings, and means for supporting said gauges in raised position. 7 I

In testimony whereof, We hereunto aflix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses FRANK W. MERRITT. ALFRED WATTS.

Witnesses:

G. THRANA, M. C. NELSON. 

